Why the change is needed:To protect adult and juvenile Salmonids including bull trout,steelhead and salmon

Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change:Native fish Society

Describe their support and/or concerns:
Our concerns are that for a significant portion of the year when this stretch of river is open there are numbers of all these species in the river that are harmed by barbed hooks. Given the tenuous state of these fish, we believe it would be a needee protection.

Submitted by: JOHNSON, CHRIS — BELLINGHAM, WA

Date submitted: 06/15/2012

WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation

Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW539213

Significant restrictions have been put in place in recent years to protect ESA listed species within this watershed consistent with the statewide steelhead management plan. Restricting anglers to barbless hooks and no bait during the limited time periods when bait and barbless hooks are allowed currently, will impede anglers' ability to harvest abundant hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead produced for harvest. Further, it would limit the effectiveness to reduce the straying of hatchery fish into the wild via angling.

Reasons not recommended for further consideration

Salmon, goes through the North of Falcon processThis proposal deals with salmon. Salmon seasons are set through the Pacific Fisheries Management Council/North of Falcon process. This process adopts a cohesive set of rules for sport and commercial salmon fisheries, from ocean fisheries to those inside Puget Sound including freshwater fisheries each year during March and April.

Your proposal will be provided to the manager(s) responsible for this species so that it can be considered during the appropriate rulemaking process.

Online Public Comments(2 comments)

BODENSTEINER, LEO November 05, 2012BELLINGHAM, WA Comments:I agree that further protection of bull trout should be implemented for this stretch of river. However, the first step should be to enforce regulations against illegal harvest, particularly below the falls, if barbless, baitless regulations are to be considered. It is well recognized by those the fish in that reach that frequent removal of bull trout is occurring when fish are congregated below the dam.

STOWELL, BRIAN E December 17, 2012KALAMA, WA Comments:As a sport angler, I wonder why gillnets will be phased out over three to four years, yet barbless hooks will be
required immediately. I know many gillnetters and netting
is not the primary income source. I just knew if we went
with Oregon or even messed with the gillnetters, we sport anglers would pay the price. Our sport angler organizations
simply got bamboozled by a slick politician who in reality
was and is sympathetic to the "fish for all" contingent.